The roar of the crowd, albeit in friendlier venues, signifies one undeniable truth: the Premier League is stirring! With the 2026/27 season looming large, clubs across England and Europe are fine-tuning their squads, testing new tactics, and integrating fresh faces. Saturday offered a tantalising glimpse into the preparations, delivering a mixed bag of results that ranged from dominant displays to concerning stalemates, and even a European champion facing a pre-season reality check.
Europa League champions Aston Villa, still basking in the glow of their continental triumph but navigating a significant squad overhaul, found themselves on the wrong end of a narrow defeat to Porto in the Portuguese capital. Meanwhile, newly-promoted Hull City roared into life with a comfortable victory, sending a confident message ahead of their top-flight return. Down on Merseyside, Everton’s pre-season began with a goalless stalemate against Championship opposition, sparking early questions about their attacking potency.
Porto vs Aston Villa: European Champions Stumble in Portuguese Test
For Unai Emery’s Aston Villa, a club still buzzing from their historic Europa League victory, the pre-season opener against Porto served as a stark reminder of the challenges ahead. Navigating the departure of star midfielder Morgan Rogers to Chelsea in a record-breaking deal and integrating exciting loanee Alejandro Garnacho, the Villans faced a stern test in a vibrant Portuguese atmosphere.
The match began with a jolt for Villa as Porto’s William Gomes capitalised on early defensive disorganisation, firing past Marco Bizot after just five minutes. It was a wake-up call, but one that prompted an immediate, impressive response. Teenage sensation Luka Lynch, a name that could become very familiar, showcased his burgeoning talent with a clinical finish just after the quarter-hour mark, levelling the scores and demonstrating Villa’s attacking intent. However, the parity was short-lived. Brazilian wide-man Pepe, always a threat, found space to restore Porto’s lead, leaving Emery with plenty to ponder regarding his side’s defensive shape and transition play.
While the result isn’t paramount in pre-season, the swift integration of new tactical concepts and players like Garnacho, alongside the void left by Rogers, will be crucial. Emery’s starting XI featured a blend of experience and youth, with players like Modou Kéba Cisse and George Hemmings getting valuable minutes, hinting at the depth the Spaniard is keen to cultivate.
Aston Villa starting XI: Marco Bizot, Matty Cash, Modou Kéba Cisse, Tyrone Mings, Ian Maatsen, Lamare Bogarde, Ross Barkley, Leon Bailey, Luka Lynch, George Hemmings, Bradley Burrowes
Aston Villa substitutes: James Wright, Joe Gauci, Jamaldeen Jimoh-Aloba, Kosta Nedeljkovic, Joao Gomes, Brian Madjo, Triston Rowe, Aidan Borland, Ben Broggio, Rodrigo Fortes, TJ Carroll
Hull City Roar: Tigers Deliver Dominant Display in First Outing
For newly-promoted Hull City, their first pre-season encounter was a declaration of intent. Facing Turkish opposition Konyaspor in Slovenia, Liam Rosenior’s side delivered a commanding 3-0 victory that will undoubtedly inject confidence into the squad as they prepare for life back in the Premier League. This wasn’t just a win; it was a statement of attacking fluidity and defensive solidity.
The goals flowed freely for the Tigers. Enis Destan broke the deadlock with a well-taken effort, showcasing the kind of predatory instinct that will be vital in the top flight. An unfortunate own goal from the opposition doubled Hull’s advantage, but the most impressive strike of the day arguably came from Abu Kamara, whose finish underlined the diverse attacking threats Rosenior is trying to build. Oli McBurnie, keen to make his mark, thought he had added a fourth, only for the goal to be controversially ruled out for a supposed foul – a minor blip on an otherwise stellar day.
The match saw Rosenior utilise his squad effectively, making wholesale changes for the second half to give crucial minutes to a wide array of players. The seamless transition between the two elevens speaks volumes about the depth and tactical understanding being instilled. This dominant display, particularly the clinical finishing and overall control of the game, bodes extremely well for Hull as they aim to establish themselves in the Premier League.
Hull City starting XI: Jack Butland, Maty Jacob, Cathal McCarthy, Paddy McNair, Cody Drameh, Darko Gyabi, Oscar Zambrano, Abdulkadir Omur, Ibrahim Akintola, Enis Destan, Abu Kamara
Hull second-half XI: Dillon Phillips, Ryan Giles, John Egan, Semi Ajayi, Lewie Coyle, Matt Crooks, Regan Slater, Kieran Dowell, Liam Millar, Mohamed Belloumi, Oli McBurnie
Everton vs Bolton: Toffees Stutter in Goalless Stalemate
For Everton fans, the opening pre-season friendly offered little to cheer about as David Moyes’ side played out a frustrating goalless draw against Championship opponents Bolton. While results are secondary in these early fixtures, the lack of attacking incision and inability to break down a lower-league side will undoubtedly be a cause for concern on Merseyside.
The game unfolded largely as a cagey affair, with a quiet opening 15 minutes setting the tone. Everton did have the ball in the net, only for Thierno Barry’s effort to be chalked off for offside – a moment that, had it stood, might have injected some much-needed life into their performance. Moyes, ever the pragmatist, rang the changes at half-time, introducing a host of fresh legs including Michael Keane, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, and Vitalii Mykolenko, in an attempt to spark some creativity and find a breakthrough.
However, the substitutions failed to alter the narrative. The Toffees struggled to craft clear-cut chances, with the game ultimately petering out into a drab stalemate. This performance highlights an area Everton desperately needs to address: converting possession and territory into genuine goal-scoring opportunities. Against Championship opposition, a Premier League side should be demonstrating superiority, and this result suggests there’s significant work to be done if Everton are to avoid another season battling at the wrong end of the table.
Everton starting XI: Mark Travers, Jarrad Branthwaite, James Tarkowski, Adam Aznou, Jake O’Brien, Merlin Rohl, Tim Iroegbunam, Carlos Alcaraz, Dwight McNeil, Thierno Barry, Harrison Armstrong
Everton substitutes: Tom King, George Pickford, Michael Keane, Beto, Vitalii Mykolenko, Tyrique George, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, William Tamen, George Finney, Braiden Graham, Eli Campbell, Malik Olayiwola, Harvey Foster
Game Highlights
- Porto vs Aston Villa:
- 5′ GOAL (Porto): William Gomes strikes early, punishing Villa’s slow start.
- 16′ GOAL (Aston Villa): Teenager Luka Lynch shows composure to level for the Europa League champions.
- 32′ GOAL (Porto): Pepe restores Porto’s lead with a well-taken finish, proving decisive.
- Hull City vs Konyaspor:
- GOAL (Hull): Enis Destan opens the scoring with a clinical finish.
- GOAL (Hull): An own goal doubles the Tigers’ advantage.
- GOAL (Hull): Abu Kamara adds a third, capping a dominant performance.
- DISALLOWED GOAL (Hull): Oli McBurnie’s effort controversially ruled out for a foul.
- Everton vs Bolton:
- DISALLOWED GOAL (Everton): Thierno Barry’s early strike ruled out for offside.
- Lack of clear chances: Everton struggle to create genuine opportunities against Championship opposition throughout the 90 minutes.
Premier League Pre-Season Fixtures Today
The pre-season action continues with more Premier League clubs taking to the field later on Saturday and into the early hours of Sunday morning, offering further insights into their preparations.
| Date | Fixture | Venue | BST start time | ET | PT |
| Sat, July 25 | Liverpool vs Sunderland | Nashville | 23:00 | 18:00 | 15:00 |
| Sun, July 26 | Leeds vs Wrexham | Tampa | 00:30 | 19:30 | 16:30 |
When does the 2026/27 Premier League season start?
The highly anticipated 2026/27 Premier League campaign officially kicks off on the weekend of Friday, August 21. Fans can look forward to the full list of Premier League fixtures in August and September and the accompanying TV schedule.
Elsewhere in Europe
Pre-season drama wasn’t confined to England, with several European giants also in action, delivering a mix of exhilarating comebacks and shocking upsets.
In a thrilling encounter, Scottish champions Celtic raced into a commanding 2-0 lead inside the opening half-hour against Ruben Amorim’s AC Milan. New signing Camilo Duran continued his sensational start to life in Glasgow, netting his third goal in as many games before turning provider to set up James Forrest for Celtic’s second. However, the Serie A giants demonstrated their pedigree, hitting back after the break with Francesco Camarda bagging a brace – the first from the penalty spot – to ensure the former Manchester United’s boss’ side avoided defeat in a gripping draw.
Germany, surprisingly, saw two of its Bundesliga heavyweights humbled. Last season’s runaway champions Bayern Munich, fielding a remarkably youthful squad with an average age of just over 17 years, fell to a surprising 2-1 defeat to third-tier side Wehen Wiesbaden. Ibrahim Ati Allah gave the home side the lead, marking their 100th-anniversary celebration with a memorable goal. Despite Tom Bischof’s penalty levelling for Vincent Kompany’s experimental side, Lukas Schleimer pounced in the dying minutes to seal a famous victory for the underdogs. Borussia Dortmund suffered a similar fate, also going down 2-1 to Dusseldorf. Seventeen-year-old Mathis Albert had given Dortmund the lead, but second-half goals from Fabian Schleuse and Anas Slimani turned the tide in favour of the third-division club, sending a clear message that pre-season respect is earned, not given.
Meanwhile, in a more composed affair, Juventus secured a 1-0 victory over Belgian side Standard Liege, courtesy of a beautifully executed set-piece. From a free-kick on the edge of the box, Andrea Cambiaso cleverly teed up Fabio Miretti, who unleashed a powerful strike into the net, highlighting the Old Lady’s tactical prowess.
Pre-Season Prediction: A Tale of Three Trajectories
Based on these initial pre-season outings, we can begin to sketch out potential trajectories for our Premier League protagonists. Aston Villa, despite their narrow defeat, showed flashes of individual brilliance and the depth Emery is trying to build. Their European hangover and the integration of new key players mean they might endure a slightly turbulent start to the campaign, but the underlying quality and tactical acumen of Emery suggest they will eventually find their rhythm and push for another strong finish, perhaps even challenging for top-six honours once the squad gels fully. They are a team in transition, but a transition with ambition.
Hull City, on the other hand, have launched into their pre-season with an emphatic statement. Their dominant 3-0 win against Konyaspor suggests a team brimming with confidence and a clear tactical identity under Liam Rosenior. While the Premier League is an entirely different beast, this early success will be crucial for morale and team cohesion. I predict Hull will approach the new season with a fearless attitude, potentially surprising a few bigger teams, and showing early signs that they are far from just making up the numbers in the fight for survival.
Everton, however, face a more challenging outlook. A goalless draw against Championship opposition, coupled with a discernible lack of attacking threat, raises significant red flags. David Moyes has a monumental task ahead of him to inject creativity and goal-scoring prowess into his squad. If these pre-season struggles persist, Everton could be in for another arduous campaign, battling against the familiar spectre of relegation. Without immediate improvements in their final third, they risk a disheartening start to the 2026/27 season, potentially finding themselves entrenched in a fight for survival once again.